Ashton Kutcher -- often written off by the ignorant as an amiable dunce, the guy is very smart and has been good in every movie he's been in.

Ashton Kutcher -- often written off by the ignorant as an amiable dunce, the guy is very smart and has been good in every movie he's been in.

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Alice Faye, American actress and singer, 1934-1935. Born Alice Jeane Leppert, Alice Faye (1915-1998) was a leading Hollywood star in the late 1930s and early 1940s until a dispute with her studio, 20th Century Fox, effectively ended her career. Taken from Meet the Film Stars, by Seton Margrave. (London, 1934-1935). (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images) less

Alice Faye, American actress and singer, 1934-1935. Born Alice Jeane Leppert, Alice Faye (1915-1998) was a leading Hollywood star in the late 1930s and early 1940s until a dispute with her studio, 20th Century ... more

Ronald Reagan -- underrated as an actor, because conservatives don't want to think of him as an actor and liberals won't give him credit for anything. The truth? He was good -- and he wasn't a star of B-movies, either. He was a medium-sized star of A movies. less

Ronald Reagan -- underrated as an actor, because conservatives don't want to think of him as an actor and liberals won't give him credit for anything. The truth? He was good -- and he wasn't a star of ... more

Tony Curtis -- he'd probably not be overrated if he didn't spend the last 20 years of his life whining about being underrated. Still, he was.

Tony Curtis -- he'd probably not be overrated if he didn't spend the last 20 years of his life whining about being underrated. Still, he was.

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Allen Toussaint -- suggested by bauhaus.

Allen Toussaint -- suggested by bauhaus.

Photo: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images / Getty Images

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Karin Viard -- one of the greatest actresses in the world. Completely unknown in the United States.

Karin Viard -- one of the greatest actresses in the world. Completely unknown in the United States.

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Richard Widmark -- versatile character actor, playing good guys and psychos with equal aplomb.

Richard Widmark -- versatile character actor, playing good guys and psychos with equal aplomb.

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A portrait of actor Richard Barthelmess circa 1930. The Robert Redford of the early talkies, known today only for his silent films. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

A portrait of actor Richard Barthelmess circa 1930. The Robert Redford of the early talkies, known today only for his silent films. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Photo: Archive Photos / Getty Images

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Gallery of the Under-rated 2014

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It’s the time of the year to honor the Underrated. The above gallery contains selections by me and by readers, and feel free to add to it. It’s an opportunity to call attention to some good work that’s not getting enough notice.

As this is a movie blog, most of the people are in film, some are in the arts in general, and a few are neither. I’d like to get the list up to a hundred by the end of the day — and to confine it to arts figures, living and dead, so keep your suggestions coming. Place your suggestions in the comments or write to me at mlasalle@sfchronicle.com.

And if you think some of the people here AREN’T overrated, that they’re good but everyone knows that already, don’t hesitate to say so.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.